Siemens-Aspen Community College STEM Award

Program Overview

The Siemens-Aspen Community College STEM Award is a partnership between the Aspen Institute's College Excellence Program (CEP) and the Siemens Foundation designed to highlight the value that community colleges can provide individuals, communities, and businesses across the United States through excellent programs that prepare students for middle-skill jobs in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.

There are more than five million jobs in STEM fields that require more than a high school diploma but less than a four-year degree. These jobs pay wages that average more than $50,000 annually. Yet, employers throughout the country are experiencing and projecting significant shortages of qualified workers in many STEM fields.

Through a generous grant from the Siemens Foundation, the Siemens-Aspen Community College STEM Award addresses this challenge in several ways:

Identify and elevate practices within eight strong middle-skill STEM programs, each of which receive a $50,000 award.

Share the success stories of “Siemens Technical Scholars,” an exceptional group of diverse students from across the country who demonstrate the rewarding careers and opportunity that result from completing an excellent STEM program. The Siemens Technical Scholars are chosen by Aspen in partnership with the community colleges that win the Siemens-Aspen Community College STEM Award.